MartinSr is right there are several good alternatives for a cutting torch, with LP being about the easiest, cheapest (just a tip change) and most practical, but nothing out there will replace Acetylene without major compromises and none of them will weld! I have used LP for years as a much cheaper alternative for cutting use but Acetylene is a must to have on hand also and except for the cost is the only torch fuel that will do everything and do it well. For body work or any other gas welding operation Acetylene is going to be the only thing to use.

I am hoping I can get some using my employers account at a different welding supply. We just got our ox/ace tanks exchanged this past monday and nothing was said. At my source (where I have been going for thirty years) I was told unless I have an "account" (as in charge account) I simply couldn't get any, period. So I will be calling who we use at work and see if I can get any there.

first result was this thread and the next post that actually discussed a shortage on this planet was on the HAMB.
there is an extreme shortage of Acetylene on titan, one of Saturn's moons. (and lots of results)
there is also mention of this from 2005.

if there is a shortage, someone will step in and produce more as a matter of supply and demand.

Well I would assume it is a local thing and not a world-wide shortage! We had a shortage of Acetylene here some years ago due to a production problem and it was very similar to what MartinSr is saying is happening out there, lasted about a month or so and then seemed to get back to normal.

The acetylene shortage is real and indefinite, and nationwide. The only producer of calcium carbide in the US had a fire last week with 2 casualties and is shut down. Carbide is used in the production of acetylene. Acetylene suppliers are looking outside the US for other sources, but as you can imagine, the shortage will be long, the prices will rise, and there will be surcharges. Your best bet is to switch to propylene.

How do I know this info? I work for a welding supply distributor in the midwest.

This is bad news indeed! For cutting switching to Propylene or LP (isn't Propylene hard to get these days also? Just something I heard recently. ) would solve the problem and a lot of people might be pleasantly surprised at the huge cost savings. These alternative gases do work for that purpose but they simply are not a real replacement for Acetylene since they are not as versatile and Acetylene is necessary for gas welding. Because of cost and convenience I have been using LP for cutting for a long time now but I would certainly feel lost without having Acetylene on hand. This is good info (but bad news!) and those of us fortunate enough to have some Acetylene on hand had best be sparing with it.

I hope so, I know the guy I talked to at the welding supply was seriously bummed and said the rationing is "indefinite".

Brian

Brian, I couldn't call where I get it when you posted this, so I called today, the guy there, said he has plenty, and had not heard a thing about any shortage. One thing nice about living up here, everyone thinks it's too cold to visit, so I'm pretty sure we won't have a run on our Acetylene.

Rumor I just heard is the company that caught fire is owned by an investment group and they are looking at collecting the insurance and walking away from the whole thing. This could be a very huge problem. We may not have Acetylene for years if this happens.

Rumor I just heard is the company that caught fire is owned by an investment group and they are looking at collecting the insurance and walking away from the whole thing. This could be a very huge problem. We may not have Acetylene for years if this happens.

That could be but there is such a huge market for Acetylene I would think someone would step up and take over, just too much profit potential to ignore. Then there could very well be an ample supply from off-shore so maybe we will be importing Carbide like everything else. Whatever happens one thing we don't have to guess about and that is what is going to happen to the price!

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